Needs better management

January 15, 2004

To the editor:

Windber Area School District (WASD) made a wise decision in not obtaining Windber Community Building (WCB). The distant location from WASD was primary. The superintendent supervising students like President John Vatavuk stated in his forum letter would be last. In between would be money and money.

The borough should ask Grand Slam USA if they are interested in the building. Grand Slam USA made money when they had the basketball league that Windber inherited.

Who cooked up this idea to sell the WCB, anyway? Although, the WCB has not been managed properly for many years. The borough needs to hire someone who is trained in management and recreation. Then there would be no talk of selling this asset.

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The recreation department has lost nearly a quarter of a million dollars in the past seven years. That is why there is talk of selling this asset. That department lost more than $60,000 in 2003 alone.

Call the borough office and ask. They will tell you. Better yet, go to a council meeting and ask how much and why. Ever see council members squirm?

If that albatross is sold, the borough should put the Recreation Park on the market, too. Then fire the whole council.

No! Get proper management for the park and WCB. Then create good will in the area, have fun at those two places and earn some money. That is what should be happening!

Why did a group of area residents join with the Cancer Society to create Windber's Winter Wonderland? Because the Park is there! Area residents, not the Recreation Department, made the Recreation Park and Miners Park beautiful this past holiday.